Primary battery.



Patented Feb. 4, 1913.

G. S. ENGLE.

PRIMARY BATTERY.

APPLICATION FILED M110, 1909.

.fiwazzfar 6607 122976 yaw " To all whom it may concern:

- a citizen of the United States, residing at .Edgewood, Providence, 1n the county of embodying zinc or zinc combined with any other purposes, and contemplates the proalkaline electrolyte solution cooperating forthe pur'pose of demonstrating an opera-- derstood, 'howeve'r, 'that"'modifications and 1 UNITED sTATns PATENT OFFICE.

enoasn s. ENGLE, or rnovrnnnon, RHODE. ISLAND, assienon we AMERICAN ELE- MENTARY ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF.WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OE/COLUMBIA, A COR-Q IORATION OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

PRIMARY BATTERY.

Patented Feb. 4, 1913.

Original application filed December 4, 1908, Serial No. 465,938. Divided and this application filed April 10, 1909. Serial No. 489,140.

structural changes are possible within the scope of the invention.

This invention particularly relates to matter dividedout of my copending application Serial Number 465,938, filed-..December 4, 1908.

In the drawings: Figu'fe 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of a battery cell embodying the features of theinventiom Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail view of the'carbon element or negative pole. -Fig. -4' is an elevation showing a plurality of the cells connected in parallel and series. Each cell of the battery comprises a casing or receptacle 5 composed of zinc, or a Be it known that I, GEORGE S. Enema,

Providence and State-of Rhode Island, have invented new and useful Improvements in Primary Batteries, of which the following is a specification.

' This invention relates to a primary battery adapted for illuminating, motive and vision of a cell of minimized proportions other metal or substance and carbon elements for poles and a cold alkaline electrolyte solution.

The invention 'also involves the art'of v generating electricity by means of a cold substance and -Wll1Cll Wlll be hereinafter termed a zinc element or pole, the said with zinc positive and carbon negative ele,-, receptacle having minimized dimensions ments for poles in a specific manner or by lessening the internal resistance by forming a more perfect conducting fluid, the essenfor different applications. In the upper open extremityof the receptacle 5 a: cover far enough above the upper edge of the receptacle to prevent contact with the latter fiby superimposed receptacles of a similar character aswill be more fully hereinafter explained. The cover 6 is constructed from any suitable insulating composition and has bolt openings'Z-formed therein on opposite arsidessof thecenter, a central mortise 8 and an opening 9' to receive a porcelain filling tube or nipple 10 shouldered at its upper extremity and'fitted flush with the top surface of the, cover. 1

The'receptacle 5 has a fully closed bottom 11" with a longitudinal groove 12 formed in thecenter thereof and extending completely from end to end. The receptacle 5 constitutes the positive elementtor pole of the cell and suspended therein is a carbon plate 13 constituting the negativeelement or pole of the cell, "bolts 14 extending through the openingsv 7 of"the"cover. and the said plate and liavi'ng'their heads vIii-countersunk in sockets 16 in the lower edge of the said plate 13, the sockets- 16 being filled by carbon plugs 17so to compltely-inclose metallic heads of the bolts to' preventready contact line zincate which is soluble and prevented from penetrating the pores and depositing on the negative or carbon element by inter-k. posing a restrictive medium which does not afi'ect the chemical action of the gases on. the same element. i

The invention still further involves the art of economically generating electricity and preventing undue attack on the positive or zinc element by obstructing the creeping up and exterior exudation of the electrolyte carrying the alkaline zinc'ate which forms into powder when reaching the air by amalgamating the top portion of the interior'of the zinc cell with mercury. Other advantages .and important struc-: tural features will be hereinafter more fully" explained in the subjoined-description, and in'the accompanying drawings one practical embodiment of the invention is illustrated tive device" and particularly the advantages of combining a plurality of the cellsfin grounsiwit i n a siren spa e.- t'w l' e. n

though capable of enlargement to adapt it.

6 is fitted and projects at its perimeter just combination of zinc with any other metal or the metallic of the latter with the electrolyte within the cell. The carbon plugs 17 are dense, and when applied are securely fastened in the sockets 16. Owing to the density of the plugs 17, considerable time will elapse before they become thoroughly saturated with the electrolyte or permit the latter to reach heads of the bolts 14, and hence for all practical pur wsesthe bolt heads are shielded. The upper extremities of the bolts 14 are screw-threaded and engaged by thin nuts and washers 19 bearing on the upper surface of the cover 6. The electrolyte does not fully occupy the interior of the receptacle 5, there being a space between the maximum level of the said electrolyte and the lower surface of the cover, and hence the upper extremities of the bolts 14 are not affected by the electrolyte. The carbon plate 13 has a tenon or tongue 20 rising from the center of the upper edge thereof which is snugly projected through the mortiseS and thcreover is secured a copper cap '21 having a base flange 22 bearing upon and held down against the upper surface of the cover 6 and serving as a conductor of an advantageous character in a manner-which will be presently explained. As shown by Fig. 2, ample space is provided within the receptacle 5 for the electrolyte 23 which may be of any suitable alkaline character.

The ends. sides and bottom edge of the carbon plate 13 are separated from the inner surfaces of the adjacent walls and bottom of the receptacle- 5, or in other words, the carbon does not have contact at any point with the zinc receptacle. The carbon plate 13 is inclosed or covered by an envelop or sack 24 composed of cotton fabric which fully extends over the said carbon plate to the cover 6 as shown and acts as a protective medium with relation to the carbon plate and prevents excessive charging of the carbon pole with the zincate of the alkali metal. The fabric envelop or sack 24 serves as a strainer to prevent the heavier particles of the electrolyte from congregating immediately adjacent to the carbon plate and thereby allow a greater freedom of act-ion of the liquid portion of the electrolyte relatively to the said-plate. This envelop or restrictive medium composed of cotton fabric does not obstruct the escape of the gases that may be generated within the cell. Under excessive pressure a portion of the gas may escape through the joint between the porcelain filling tube or nipple 10 and the casing cover 6, but there is no ingress of the exterior atmosphere or any other matter into the cell after the latter has been sealed or closed by the cover 6. 'The minimized gas escape between the fillin tube or nipple 10 and the wall of the opening in the casing or cover 6 in which said tube or nipple is fitted has been found in practice to be ample for relieving the battery ofa portion of the as generated therein and which it is desira le to liberate. It is well known that gas will ass through a very minute crevice, and it is also impossible to make an absolutely tight joint between the nipple and the wall of the casing or cover and the crevice that remains is suflicientto permit the escape of the excess gas.

It will be understood that the electrolyte may be introduced into the receptacle 5 through the filling tubeor nipple 10 in the cover 6, and after the electrolyte has been thus supplied to the cell the tube or nipple 10 is closed by inserting therein a suitable plu or cork. The top portion of the inner sur ace of the receptacle 5 is amalgamated with mercury as at 25 to prevent the electrolyte from creeping upand passing under or over the said amalgamated rim and carrying alkaline zincate through the joint between the cover and the receptacle and which would immediately be resolved into powder form with serious detriment to the cleanliness ofv the cell. This amalgamated rim aso obstructs the loss of the alkaline zincate from the electrolyte by preventing creeping as just explained and particularly as it is essential that a certain percentage of alkaline zincate must be maintained in solution in the electrolyte. This presence ofalkaline zincate in the electrolyte reduces the internal resistance of the cell to a minimum and very materially reduces the local action on the zinc receptacle 5. The electrolyte always remains in a cold state in contradistinction to thermo-cells where diiierent degrees of heat are used to accelerate or increase the amperage r As a mattenof convenience in connecting up a plurality of the cells in parallel, as shown for instance by Fig. 4, eachreceptaole 5 has at one' extremity an integral lug or boss 26 and applied over these lugs or bosses of the cells in the same horizontal series is a copper coupling strip 27 theremaining connection being between the projectingcarbons or the caps 21 by means of copper plates 28 which are separably attached as at 29 for convenience in association and dissociation. The connection in series is accomplished through the medium of the grooves 12 in the bottoms of the successive cells and the'copper capped carbon tongues by exposure to the atmosphere or tenons 20 which are fitted in the said grooves, and by this means a plurality of the which in a large number of cells materially detracts from the efliciency or electromotive force of the connected group or groups.

Furthermore, structurally this simple mode zinc embodied therein as one of connecting the plural ty of cells in series is convenient and expeditious and results in condensing the space of occupancy by dispensing with the use of connecting wires.

It is proposed in some instances to introduce in the electrolyte certain quantities of alkaline zi-ncate prior to filling or supplyin the receptacle 5 with the electrolyte in or er to prevent a forceful attack on the zinc of the receptacle by the electrolyte in the first instance. This preliminary step will not in the least tion of the electrolyte, but *onthe contrary has the advantage in that the internal re sistance is materlally lessened and which is the most essential feature of the present invention. The preservation of-the necessary amount of alkaline zincate in the electrolyte or the retention of alkaline zincate .in the electrolyte within the capacity of the latter is materially assisted by the amalgamated rim of mercury hereinbefore explainedjn view of the fact that there is no possibility of the loss of the zinc in solution.

What is claimed is:

1. In a battery cell, a receptacle having of its components and exposed interiorly of the recepta-' cle, an insulating cover for sealing the receptacle having an opening through-the center thereof, the bottom of the receptacle having a longitudinal groove extending fully from one end to the other thereof, a carbon plate suspended from the said insulating cover into the receptacle and having a 'cen-* tral projection extending through the m the cover above the top surface 0 the latter, a metallic COVGIlIlg over the portion my hand in presence of two subscribing witof the projection of the carbon plate extendint! above the unoer surface of the insulatthe end of the said carbon projection and ada ted for engagement with the groove in the botttm of a compam. ion-cell, the proportions of! the carbon projection with its metal-cover and the groove ing cover to protect afiect the chemical acp in the bottom of the cell being such that the said groove will receive the projection of an ad acent cell, and an electrolyte in the .receptacle. v

2. In a battery cell, a receptacle having zinc embodied therein as one of its components and exposed interiorly of the receptacle, an insulating cover for sealing the re.- ceptacle having an opening through the center thereof, the bottom of the receptacle having a longitudinalgroove extending from the said insulating cover into the receptacle and having a cen-' tral projection extending through the 0 ening in the cover latter to engage in the bottom groove of a companion cell, the proportions of the carbon projection and the groove in the bottom of the cell being such that the said groove will receive the projection of an adjacent cell, one end of the receptacle also having a metal covered projection trical connecting means, and a cold alkaline electrolyte in the receptacle. 3. A battery cell comprising a receptacle containing zinc as a part thereof and interiorly exposed, an insulating cover sealing the receptacle, a carbon plate suspended from the cover into the receptacle and having a portion thereof extending through said cover for electrical connection, one end of the rece tacle having a metal covered projection to serve as the remaining electrical connecting means, a fabric casing fully inclosing the portion of the carbon plate within the receptacle, and a cold alkaline electrolyte in the receptacle.

In testimony whereof I have lair. suspended hereunto set nesses.

GEORGE s. ENGLE. Witnesses: Y

CHAS. S. HYER,

JAM s L. No mrs, Jr.

Copies 0': this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the c mmis i 1 p t t Washington, D. (3.

fully from one end to the other thereof, a carbon above the top surface 0 the to serve as an elec- 

